Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card stands out in the premium travel space.

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• Cardholders can quickly accumulate points with strong earning rates on Marriott stays, dining, and flights.
• Despite its premium annual fee (See Rates & Fees), the card comes loaded with luxury travel perks like automatic Platinum Elite status and airport lounge access.
• The annual Free Night Award and up to $25 in monthly dining credits can easily offset the card's cost for frequent travelers (publisher-formulated estimate).

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status offers valuable hotel perks like room upgrades, late checkout, and lounge access at participating properties.
• An annual Free Night Award and monthly statement credits for dining provide recurring value for travelers.
• Premium travel benefits include airport lounge access and various travel protections.

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Cons

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• Carries a significant annual fee that may not be suitable for casual travelers.
• Card benefits are heavily focused on the Marriott brand, limiting its appeal for those who aren't loyal to the hotel chain.
• Marriott's dynamic award pricing can make the value of points unpredictable when redeeming for stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, comes down to your travel style and how you value premium perks versus annual costs.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is ideal for frequent Marriott guests and value-focused travelers who want to earn rewards on everyday spending and get a solid head start on elite status.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed for Marriott loyalists who prioritize top-tier luxury benefits, including automatic high-level elite status and premium travel perks.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Points are primarily redeemed for hotel stays across the extensive Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, offering flexibility for booking free nights at a wide range of properties.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: In addition to redeeming points for stays at Marriott's most luxurious properties, cardholders can also transfer points to numerous airline partners for enhanced travel flexibility.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is built for the premium traveler. It features complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge access (Terms Apply) and a fee credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application. Cardholders also benefit from having no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: While more focused on earning rewards, this card is still travel-friendly. It eliminates foreign transaction fees, making it a good companion for trips abroad. However, it does not offer complimentary airport lounge access or credits for expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To help you decide, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive new cards: The platform’s “Test Drive” feature lets you see your potential earnings with a new card by analyzing your real spending data—all before you apply and without impacting your credit score.
• Personalized matching: Get card recommendations tailored to you from a library of nearly 3,000 credit cards, ensuring you find the best fit for your spending patterns.
• Approval odds analysis: Kudos provides a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you get a card through the platform and find a better public welcome offer within three months, Kudos will match it.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent choice for travelers who frequently stay at Marriott properties and want to accelerate their point earnings. It also appeals to value-conscious individuals who can maximize the annual Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) and those seeking a shortcut to elite status through the 15 Elite Night Credits awarded each year. Beyond travel, the card is a solid option for everyday spenders, offering 3X points on the first $6,000 spent annually on combined purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott portfolio and value its premium perks. Cardholders can maximize its value through benefits like automatic Platinum Elite status and an annual Free Night Award, alongside a $300 Brilliant Dining Credit (up to $25 per month). As this card review explains, it's an ideal fit for regular Marriott guests who can leverage these features to offset the annual fee. Terms Apply.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® comparison didn't help you find the perfect card, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel goals.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Review your credit: You will likely need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
• Know the program: Understand the Marriott Bonvoy program to get the most from your card.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer rules - Be aware of any application restrictions from Chase or American Express.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the welcome offer spending requirement.
• Assess your loyalty - Ensure you stay with Marriott often enough to maximize the card’s benefits.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I hold both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and Brilliant cards?

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Eligibility for both cards is complex due to rules from different issuers, Chase and American Express. You should review each issuer's specific application rules before applying to ensure you qualify for both.

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Which card offers better elite status benefits?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card automatically grants you Platinum Elite status. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase provides automatic Silver Elite status, with a pathway to earn Gold status through spending.

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If I upgrade from the Boundless card to the Brilliant card, can I still earn the welcome offer?

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Typically, when you upgrade a credit card, you are not eligible for the new card's welcome offer. To receive a welcome offer, you generally need to apply for the card as a new applicant.

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